Roller-skate.



' 0. KIRKHAM.

ROLLER SKATE, APPLICATION- FILED JULY 2fig1909.

Patented May 3, 1910 qllllllllllln l qh bweoow WV W P ANDREW a GRAHAM cu. Pno'mmnocanuaws. wAsmNswN, uv z;

ORLANDO KIRKI-IAM, 0F MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

ROLLERSKATE.

Specification of Letterslatent.

Application filed July 29, 1909.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Serial No. 510,157.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORLANDO KIRKHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marshalltown, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller- Skates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to roller skates and more particularly to a device of that character in which only three wheels are employed.

The object of my invention comprehends the production of a device of the above character which is extremely simple in construction and can be easily and cheaply manufactured and still efiectually serve the purpose for which it is intended.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several viewsFigure 1 is a side elevation of my invention complete; Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4c is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-l of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one of the rear wheels.

Referring specifically to the drawings it will be seen that the foot plate of my skate is composed of two sections, a front section 1 and a rear section 2, adjustably connected together, in a manner to be hereinafter referred to.

Fastened, by any suitable means to the underside of the rear section 2 near the rear end thereof is a bracket 4 in which is journaled the horizontal shaft 5, said shaft being of a slightly greater length than the width of the rear section 2 of the foot plate, and has rotatably mounted on opposite ends thereof, in suitable ball bearings 4, the rear wheels 6 securely held thereon by nuts 6 As will be seen by referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, each of the rear wheels comprise body portions 7 of wood or any suitable light material, having its periphery provided with a semi-circular groove 8 in which is cemented, or otherwise secured, a solid rubber tire 8.

Fixed to the underside of the front section 1 of the foot plate of my skate, near its forward end and on a line with the center thereof is a plate 9 having downwardly extending end portions 9 in which is journaled the horizontal shaft 10. Rotatably mounted on said shaft 10, on ball bearings 10 between the arms 9 is the front wheel 11, which is composed of side plates 12 of metal having securely clamped therebetween by bolts 12 a rubber disk 13 which is of greater diameter that the diameter of said side plates 12. That portion of the disk 13 which extends beyond the peripheries of the side plates serves as a tire. To prevent the sides of the front wheel 11 from scraping against the inside faces of the arms 9 I space said wheel from the arms by placing on the shaft 10, between the side plates 12 and the arms 9 the elongated washers 14.

The meeting ends of the front and rear sections 1 and 2 respectively, of the foot plate are lapped over each other a short distance, as at 8, and are each provided with a longitudinal slot 15 formed on a line with the center of said sections and near the meeting ends thereof. Passing vertically through said slot is an eye bolt 16 having a lower threaded end 17 for the reception of a clamping nut 18. Passing through the eye of the bolt 16 is a transverse rod 19 having downturned extremities 20 adapted to engage in certain of thepairs of openings 21 formed in the forward end of the rear section 2 and arranged longitudinally on both sides of its slot 15. Thus it will be seen that by loosening the clamping nut 18 the downturned extremities of the rod 19 may be raised above the upper surface of the rear section 2, when both of the sections may be extended by means of their slots 15 to adjust the foot plate to fit shoes of different sizes, and by placing the said downturned extremities 20 in any one pair of the apertures 21, and tightening the clamping nut 18 the foot plate may be rigidly held at the desired adjustment. It will be noted that the means above described for adjusting the foot plate are so located that they will occupy a position below the arch of the shoe, and thereby cause no uncomfort to the user.

The means I employ for fastening the skate to the shoe of the user consist of a toe piece 22, an adjustable instep strap 23, both of which are fastened to the underside of the front section 1 by suitable rivets a. I also provide the rear section 2 with a heel piece 6 to which is fastened the ankle strap 24 which is provided with the usual buckle 2%. It will also be noted that the front wheel 11 is of less diameter than the rear wheels 6 to enable the said front wheel to be mounted m 1 ram:

below the front section 1 of the foot plate while the rear wheels occupy a position on each side of the rear section 2.

I claim In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate having a front and rear sect-ion lapped a short distance at their meeting ends and each provided with a longitudinal slot, the rear section having a series of openings in its forward end, an eye bolt working in said slots, an arm passing transversely through the eye thereof and provided with downturned extremities adapted to be received in certain of the openings of the rear sections, whereby the foot plate may be adjusted 10ngitudinally, and means for fastening the skate to the shoe of the user.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ORLANDO KIRKHAM.

Witnesses FRANK M. HARADON, ALFRED LANFEAR. 

